Kenya

[midagetrolop]

Thanks for all your advice, much appreciated. We are in a bit of a quandary about the Yellow Fever vaccine. Because we are both over 60 we are getting varying advice as to whether to have it or not. We are visiting Nairobi, Naivashi, Nakuru and Masai mara - we have been told the risk is minimal and am waiting for my Doc to give me a ring next week to see what his advice is. A friend of mine had it, a lot younger than me and it knocked her for six. Apparently there has been no outbreak since 1995. What do you lot think who have been recently. I posted this also on Health and fitness and got varying answers. We are going with Titan holidays on their Grand Kenyan Safari.

[naomi24]

The vaccine hasn't been a problem to us. Take the advice of your doctor.

[237SJ]

It`s a live vaccine so you might feel a bit fluey the first time you have it. Repeated ones have had no effect on me. I`m vaccinated on an ongoing basis but if you don`t have it, just make sure you use DEET. The only complication might be if you went to somewhere like Australia where they can be picky about wanting to see your yellow fever vaccination if they know you have been in Africa (although that has only happened to me on one occasion)

[jno]

haven't had one in 30 years, never had a problem in multiple trips to East Africa. Some places used to require it (especially if you'd come from a fever area) but I don't think any do now. I wouldn't bother.

You could ask Titan what their latest information is, but your chemist would probably be just as good.

Don't forget malaria pills. You may need to start taking them before you go.

[spudqueen]

Do NOT take a risk with your health by taking the advice of non medically qualified people. I suggest that you speak to your Doctor next week. They have all your medical details and should know whether it is safe for you to take or not. If you're still not happy then ring the Hospital for Tropical Diseases on 0845 155 5000 and ask their advice. Maybe the vaccine would knock you for six, but I'm pretty sure that getting Yellow Fever would be worse!

[KARL]

If you ask medics and/or travel agents they will look up the fullest list(s) and tell you you must have them all - this because they want to cover themselves and/or have not the first idea as to what the actual risk is. Our GP just about reported me (to whom neither he or I would have known) for turning down immunisation involving a painful injection I had previously had into the thigh - for all of us including a two year old. The protection this would have offered was/is less than complete and then only for at most six months after which you need a repeat - we were going for years to Kenya. We went and none of us got ill except our elder son who suffered a ruptured appendix (a separate and quite different story).

I have previously explained on AB how I have dealt with malaria risk and was castigated for advocating suicidal behaviour. I have spent many years in malarial areas in Africa, the Middle East and Asia and only briefly (a few weeks) in the beginning took any pills. Importantly, no pills will give you 100% protection. I have never had malaria. What I have done is take fairly rigorous measures against being bitten by mosquitoes, nothing like all of which carry the parasite, with very good results (only bitten on very, very few occasions - two or three bites each on maybe a dozen occasions). This scheme has concentrated in particular on the accommodation I have occupied - spraying with a good pesticide (a brief squirt; Baygon is the best, where you can get it - use locally sourced stuff, UK bought is likely to be produced with UK health and safety attitudes, perfume etc. in mind) in upper corners of the space, under tables, beds, chairs, sofas and a strip around all opening windows and doors - repeat every 2-3 days or at most a week. Keep all windows and doors shut from onset of dusk until after dawn. Use a mosquito net if you are visiting and move between accommodation but still spray and on arrival/takeover in/of your room start with the internal spraying as above. When out and about from onset of dusk until after dawn, wear a good repellent on legs, arms, face and neck and any exposed areas. During the dusk-dawn period wear long trousers and long sleeves as a matter of preference.

I hope you enjoy your trip. If you get the chance of being in Nakuru Park very late in the day or else in the very early morning then look out for a leopard - that was where we had the only sighting of these very illusive animals apart from at a "bait" location in Samburu. Naivasha Lake is attractive but not as "wild" by feel as Nakuru Lake, in our experience.

If you truly worry about disease, get all the immunisations and take all the pills. Then if you ever feel at all unwell after your return home, go and see your doctor and tell him/her where you have been and when. This includes any cold/flu-like symptoms.

[jno]

here's an up-to-date and authoritative page of advice

http://www.iamat.org/country_profile.cfm?id=55#profile_immunization

[midagetrolop]

Thanks all - we have been to South Africa last November touring. Karl, I have to tell you we saw a leopard on two separate days in Kruger - apparently we were very lucky, the only thing we did not see was a cheetah, hope to see one in Kenya. As for the vaccination I am waiting for a call from my Doc, supposed to be ringing me on Tuesday, we will see what he has to say. My pharmacist and a doctor friend have said the risk is so minimal not to bother but I am not sure, better safe than sorry even if it does make you a bit fluey. Thanks again.

[jno]

I'd agree with minimal, and I've spoken to doctors; but that was a few years ago, so it's best to get the latest advice.

You were lucky with the leopard, they're some of the hardest animals to find as they do a lot of their prowling at night and stay out of humans' way.

[midagetrolop]

It was up a tree with it's lunch, an impala. We got some good photos.

[EcclesCake]

As has been said take your GP/Practice Nurses advice......which is likely to be this is advised but not essential. If you are travelling a well trod path, and as you are going on an organised tour you will be, I would personally not bother.

I travel to all sorts of weird and wonderful countries and unless I'm going for a prolonged period I tend not to bother with the non-essential vaccinations.

[KARL]

You should stand a good chance of seeing cheetahs in Nairobi Park. We sat in the car parked on the trail a few metres from one with its adolescent cubs. The mother was taking a strong interest in zebras a fair distance off. She decided to try her luck and she slinked off - we lost sight of her in the grass etc., the cubs looked on with great attention but completely ignoring us. The zebra were spooked, presumably by the mother, but we saw no evidence of her having caught anything - we have it all on a camcorder recording. Enjoy nature wherever you can and whichever facet of her you have access to.